Stanley Cup Playoffs 2017: ESPN Experts Predict Capitals Beat Maple Leafs

ESPN seems very confident about the Washington Capitals chances of beating the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Many people are predicting the Washington Capitals will beat the Toronto Maple Leafs. This is understandable, as the Caps are clearly the better team. The Maple Leafs rely very heavily on their offense, while Washington has a much more balanced team. One can consider ESPN to be among those who believe in the Caps, as all of their NHL experts believe they’ll beat the Leafs.

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Steve Levy predicts Washington will win in four games. Nine of their remaining 11 experts, including Craig Custance, Joey McDonald and Barry Melrose, think they’ll win the series in five games. John Buccigross and Linda Cohn are calling the Caps to win in six games. Nobody thinks the series will go to seven games.

This will be the first time Washington and Toronto will square off in the postseason. For a long time, the Maple Leafs were in the Clarence Campbell Conference, which is known today as the Western Conference. So it’s not completely surprising this is the first time they’re facing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Also, in the past 20 years, the Caps and Leafs have rarely been playoff teams as the same time. Since 2000, they’ve only been in the postseason at the same time three times (2012-13, 2002-03 and 2000-01).

Neither team has won the Stanley Cup since the Caps’ first season in the league (1974-75). However, Toronto has won 13 Stanley Cups, though their last one came in 1966-67. They have never won a title since expansion, which happened in 1967-68.

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It should be a fascinating series. But it’s easy to see why the Capitals are favored.

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